The nerve of her sister-in-law, Sue raged, lighting up a cigarette on the steps of the hotel as she stood under the flag-bedecked awning trying to compose herself. Just who did she think she was, lecturing her about her responsibilities? Her boss would not be best pleased when she started taking mornings off to bring Margaret to her clinics and medical appointments. Niall was going to have to do as much as she did. He needn’t think he was getting away with it. And she was going to tell him that in no uncertain terms, she decided, taking her phone out of the side pocket of her bag and dialling his number.
Hilary had to run to catch a DART just before it pulled out of the station and she sank into the seat breathless, relieved that she hadn’t missed it and wasted even more time on Sue. Her sister-in-law was probably taking deep angry drags on a cigarette somewhere, fuming at what had been said to her. Tough, it had been a long time coming. Too long. Hilary scowled as the train pulled out of Pearse.
‘Sue phoned me. She was most upset at what you said to her. Did you have to start a row?’ Niall demanded down the phone a little while later as the train crossed the Liffey into Connolly.
‘I didn’t start any row. She’s upset because she has to get her skinny ass in gear and take some responsibility for her mother, Niall,’ Hilary hissed indignantly. ‘She’s got away with it for years because I was there doing what she should have been doing. So tough if she’s upset. She’s a grown woman. It shouldn’t be up to me to have to tell her how to behave. And if I may say so, it’s only because you didn’t have the guts to do it that I had to, so don’t give me a hard time about this, Niall, because I’m not taking it. Niall, you need to cop on a bit and start backing me up on this. I take responsibility for looking after my parents; you and Sue need to start taking more responsibility for your mother. Bye!’
She hung up and stared unseeingly out of the window as a flood of passengers boarded at the station. Her husband had some nerve ringing her because Sue had gone whinging to him obviously. Well it was time the two of them got used to the idea that she wasn’t going to be a pushover any more. A doormat she was no longer prepared to be and if they didn’t like it they could both lump it.
Millie and Sophie were going to the pictures with their cousins and having a pizza beforehand. Hilary had planned on cooking steak, onions and mash for herself and Niall. And she had decided to take the opportunity to discuss her reasons for taking the duvet day with him, and sort their issues once and for all, but as she drove home from work, tired and irritable and still simmering with resentment at her husband’s high-handed attitude, she decided she was damned if she was cooking and took a detour to McDonald’s. She ate her Big Mac and fries in a drive-through bay, and finished her meal off with a McFlurry ice cream and apple pie. She licked her fingers and shoved the cartons into the paper bag they had been served in and turned on the ignition. She was going to buy Hello! and pour herself a glass of wine and flop on the sofa and Niall could look after himself, she thought grimly, reversing out of her parking space.
‘Where’s dinner?’ Niall asked grumpily an hour later, surprised at finding Hilary lying on the sofa flicking through a magazine, a big glass of red at her side and not a sign of a meal being prepared.
‘I’ve had mine earlier. I got a McDonald’s. There’s steak in the fridge if you want it or order in, whatever you prefer.’ Hilary didn’t lower her magazine.
‘Well thanks for telling me you weren’t cooking. I could have got something at work,’ he said indignantly.
‘It was a spur of the moment decision. I wasn’t in the humour for cooking,’ she retorted.
‘No, be honest about it, you’re just pissed off at me and you’re getting your own back, that’s what’s going on,’ Niall scowled.
‘That too,’ Hilary said coolly.
‘Well that’s childish in the extreme.’
‘You can look at it like that if you want to, Niall. I’m just taking a night off and putting myself first for a change.’ Hilary took a sip of her Shiraz.
‘You’re good at that,’ he said nastily.
‘I am not!’ Hilary retorted indignantly, sitting bolt upright. ‘You go and frig off for yourself! You’re the one that’s good at putting yourself first! I never say anything to you about the nights you’re off out playing music. And I’ve been very good to Margaret. And I do most of the running around after the girls. So don’t give me that crap.’
‘And do I say anything about the time you spend with Jonathan? And all the jaunts you go on with him that aren’t work?’ Niall demanded.
‘Now you’re being childish,’ she retorted.
‘No I’m not. You spend more time with him than you do with me.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she snapped.
‘Well you do. It’s Jonathan this and Jonathan that,’ he said sulkily.
‘Yeah well if I do, and I dispute that, at least Jonathan doesn’t treat me like Wee Slavey and he looks out for me.’ Hilary glared at him.
‘Oh shut up, Hilary, I’ve enough going on at work without coming home to this. I’m off to have a pint and a meal in peace and quiet.’ Niall grabbed his car keys.
‘Great, I’ll get some peace. And I might even give Jonathan a ring,’ Hilary said
